Colossians 2:14-17 (KJV), “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
This is an exhortation to Gentile Christians. The Jewish Christians were trying to incorporate Mosaic Law and their traditions into the Gospel message. Essentially, they were judging Gentile Christians by Jewish law. We see the same situation in Acts 15 where the Jewish Christians were telling the Gentiles they must be circumcised in order to be saved. In Acts 15:24 the Apostles say they issued no such commandment.
Here in Colossians, the scriptures covers a broad spectrum of the law which was being forced upon the Gentile converts. Paul is saying that Jesus blotted out the ordinances (Mosaic law) which condemned Jews, because no man could keep the law perfectly. Jesus nailed the law to the cross because He (a perfect man) fulfilled the law. Thus, mankind was freed from the condemnation of the law. In summary, we are told, “Therefore let no man judge you (in regard to your status as a Christian) by placing the burden of the Mosaic law (with its food restrictions, holy days, keeping of sabbaths, etc.) upon those who accept Christ and become part of His body.”
Romans 7:6, “But now we are delivered from the law…that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” Through faith in Christ, we are saved. Jesus summarized the entire law in two commandments: Love the LORD thy GOD will all thy heart; and Love thy neighbor as thyself (Matthew 27:37-39). Christians are commanded to keep the spirit of the Law, which is the law of love, not the letter of the Law Covenant and Jewish tradition.
